The Kidney and Function of the Nephron Flashcards

1
Q

What is the cortex?

A

Outer region of the kidney made of Bowman’s capsules, tubules and blood vessels.

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2
Q

What is the medulla?

A

Darker, inner region of the kidney made from loops of Henle, collecting ducts and blood vessels.

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3
Q

What is the pelvis?

A

A cavity within the kidney where urine starts to collect.

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4
Q

What is the ureter?

A

A tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

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5
Q

What is Bowman’s capsule?

A

The structure found at one end of the nephron that contains the glomerulus.

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6
Q

What type of cells line the inside of Bowman’s capsule?

A

Podocytes

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7
Q

What is the proximal convoluted tubule?

A

A tubule that connects the glomerulus to the loop of Henle.

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8
Q

What is the loop of Henle?

A

A loop that extends from the cortex, through the medulla, and back into the cortex again.

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9
Q

What is the distal convoluted tubule?

A

The tubule closest to the collecting duct

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10
Q

What is the collecting duct?

A

The tube from which many nephrons are connected to, which transports urine into the pelvis.

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11
Q

Where is the afferent arteriole and what does it do?

A

Supplies the nephron with blood and its capillaries extend into the glomerulus.

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12
Q

Where is the efferent arteriole and what does it do?

A

Leaves Bowman’s capsule and supplies the loop of Henle with blood

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13
Q

Name the 4 stages of osmoregulation.

A

Formation of glomerular filtrate
Reabsorption by the proximal convoluted tubule
Maintenance of ion gradient by loop of Henle
Reabsorption of water by distal convoluted tubule

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14
Q

Describe the structure of glomerular capillaries.

A

Endothelial cells with pores between them so substances can leak out

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15
Q

Why does hydrostatic pressure build in the glomerulus?
How does this lead to formation of filtrate?

A

Diameter of afferent arteriole greater then efferent arteriole.
This causes glomerular filtrate to squeeze out between pores in capillaries.

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16
Q

What makes up glomerular filtrate?

A

Water, ions, glucose

17
Q

Why are blood cells and proteins not squeezed out of capillaries during the formation of glomerular filtrate?

A

They are too large

18
Q

Why do epithelial cells in the proximal convoluted tubule have microvilli?

A

Large SA for reabsorption from filtrate

19
Q

Why do epithelial cells in the proximal convoluted tubule have infoldings in their bases?

A

To increase SA so reabsorbed substances can be transferred to capillaries

20
Q

Why do epithelial cells in the proximal convoluted tubule have high numbers of mitochondria?

A

To produce ATP for active transport

21
Q

Name the ion actively transported out of cells lining the proximal convoluted tubule.
Is the conc of this ion now higher or lower in these cells?

A

Na+ actively transported out.
Na+ conc lower inside cells lining proximal convoluted tubule.

22
Q

Na+ leaves the lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule by what transport process?
Where do the Na+ ions end up?

A

Na+ leaves the lumen by facilitated diffusion in carrier proteins and ends up in the epithelial cells lining the tubule.

23
Q

Explain how cotransport of glucose/amino acids is involved in reabsorption in proximal convoluted tubule.

A

Facilitated diffusion of Na+ often happens alongside glucose or amino acids, so glucose/amino acids also enter cells lining the proximal convoluted tubule.

24
Q

Explain how glucose/amino acids are absorbed into the blood during reabsorption from proximal convoluted tubule.

A

Once they have co transported into epithelial cells lining the proximal convoluted tubule, they diffuse into the blood.

25
Q

What is the main responsibility of the loop of Henle?

A

Absorbs water from the collecting duct, concentrating urine and ensuring it has a lower water potential than the blood.

26
Q

Describe the structure and permeability of the descending limb of the loop of Henle.

A

Thin narrow walled. Highly permeable to water, impermeable to salts .

27
Q

Describe the structure and permeability of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle.

A

Wider and thicker walls. Walls impermeable to water but permeable to ions.

28
Q

Why does water leave the descending limb by osmosis?
Where does this water go?

A

Because walls are highly permeable to water.
Water then enters capillaries

29
Q

As you go down the descending limb, how does water potential of filtrate change?

A

Water potential decreases, leaving the filtrate highly concentrated.

30
Q

Whereabouts in the loop of Henle will water potential be at its lowest?

A

At the tip

31
Q

As water leaves the descending limb the loop of Henle, how does the water potential of the medulla compare to the water potential of the descending limb?

A

Water potential of medulla higher than in descending limb.

32
Q

At the base of the ascending limb, where do sodium ions start to move and by what transport process?

A

Na+ ions leave the ascending limb by diffusion as the filtrate is highly concentrated.

33
Q

As you go up the ascending limb, sodium ions to leave the filtrate by what transport process and how does this change the water potential of the filtrate?

A

Sodium ions leave by active transport and water potential of filtrate raises.

34
Q

Describe the water potential gradient between the cortex and medulla between the ascending limb and collecting duct.

A

Water potential is higher in the cortex and lower in the medulla.

35
Q

As the filtrate reaches the collecting duct, water starts to leave by osmosis - where does it go?
How does this change water potential of the filtrate?

A

Water passes into surrounding capillaries.
This lowers water potential of the filtrate.

36
Q

Why do cells in the distal convoluted tubule contain microvilli and lots of mitochondria?

A

Microvilli maximise surface area.
Mitochondria produce ATP for active transport

37
Q

What does the distal convoluted tubule do for reabsorption?

A

Makes final adjustments to water/salts absorbed and controls blood pH by selecting the ions reabsorbed.